News

Euro hitman v the Italian loudmouth

REVENGE could be sweet for Martin Schulz. During an acrimonious clash in the European parliament last year, the balding German Social Democrat suffered the humiliation of being likened by Silvio Berlusconi, the right-wing Italian prime minister, to a concentration camp guard.

This weekend Schulz, the powerful leader of the parliament’s 200 Socialist MEPs, is leading a revolt against Berlusconi’s nominee for the European commission which has pushed the European Union to the brink of political crisis.

The choice of Rocco Buttiglione, a devout Catholic and friend of the Pope who has shocked liberal opinion with his illiberal views about women and homosexuals, as the EU justice commissioner has prompted a wave of anger that may culminate this week in a vote by MEPs to reject the entire commission.

Anxious to avert this so-called “nuclear option” after months of wrangling over the make-up of the new commission, national leaders from Dublin